A sustainably loud Convocation

Mount Holyoke’s ninety-fourth annual Convocation filled the campus with color, energy and the unmistakable sound of celebration. 

First years, sophomores, juniors, seniors and Frances Perkins scholars streamed into the Gettell Amphitheater decked in vivid class colors. Green griffins, purple phoenixes, blue lions, yellow sphinxes and red pegasi wore colorful beads, hats, masks and bandanas and waved pom-poms in their colors. Faculty members entered wearing their regalia, ready to support the students with cheers and yells.

The procession reflected the full arc of the College community: first years finding their place amid new traditions, seniors proudly claiming their moment at the head of the line and every class in between adding to the kaleidoscope of spirit. 

This year, the theme of Convocation was sustainability. This not only refers to environmental sustainability, but it also covers the sustainability of resources and the Mount Holyoke College ethos.

Student Government Association President Nathania Amadi ’26 told the community, “One thing I adore about Mount Holyoke is the fierceness of our community. We are full of compassionate individuals, trendsetters, innovators, free thinkers and community-oriented leaders.”

“From the various events and spaces created by our amazing student leaders to the efforts made by faculty and staff to protect the integrity of our institution, Mount Holyoke quickly becomes MoHome,” she continued. 

Angelica Patterson, the curator of education for the Miller Worley Center for the Environment, addressed the crowd. 

“This year’s theme is sustainability. When most people hear that word, they think of the environment: clean air, clean water, forests, oceans and energy,” she said. “And yes, that’s an important part of the story. But sustainability is bigger than that. It’s also about how we sustain ourselves. Our values. Our communities. Our drive to keep growing, even when life gets hard.”

She exhorted everyone to sustain their values, their growth and their beliefs in their impact. 

“Sustainability isn’t just about holding on. It’s about adapting,” Patterson said. “It’s about letting yourself grow into someone you never thought you could be. If you let Mount Holyoke challenge you, if you take the risks and step into the unknown, you will be amazed at who you become over these next few years.”

Olivia Aguilar, associate professor of environmental studies and the Leslie and Sarah Miller Director of the Miller Worley Center for the Environment, gave this year’s faculty address. 

Aguilar, who received the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Fellows Award last year in recognition of her leadership in sustainability, dug into the topic of climate justice through the lens of Olivia Butler’s novel “Parable of the Sower.”

“I’m really excited about this year’s Common Read,” she began. “Not only does it address the issue of change, but it also addresses the perils of a changing climate, and it encourages us to explore possibility through community. Butler wrote about climate change before it was a widely discussed issue, and she even had the foresight to provide an ending that gave us some hope.”

Aguilar stressed that even in times such as these, there is much to be hopeful about, saying that Mount Holyoke’s decision-making processes and community values are key to lasting change in climate justice.

“The power of a structure that lets everyone have a voice and allows for complex issues to be addressed through reciprocal contributions is immense,” she said. As an example, she explained how the College addressed waste in the Dining Commons and during move-out, when residence halls close at the end of each academic year. 

“Because we were talking with each other instead of across each other, we could identify ways that students, faculty, staff and administrators could all contribute to solutions to these issues,” Aguilar said. “Imagine figuring this all out through a community conversation. This is what it takes to respond to issues of justice. And if we are committed to a climate-just campus, then we are committed to a just campus — you cannot disentangle the two.” 

The student choir sang the alma mater to close Convocation, and then students enjoyed a special lunch. The echoes of the sound of cheering lingered long after the students had dispersed, carrying the promise of a year shaped by discovery, community and a shared commitment to one another.